Criminal justice DNA Crisis

Forensic testing tampering crisisQuestions have been raised over the privatisation of the Forensic Science Service after the company that has been carrying out tests, Randox Testing Services (RTS), was accused of deliberately manipulating samples, possibly to hit performance targets. Rogue scientists are feared to have doctored the forensic test results of hundreds of innocent people over a decade. The company handles 80,000 cases a year and serves every police force in the country. Lyn Brown, Labour’s policing spokesman, said: “It is very disturbing to think about the scale of this miscarriage of justice.” Tory MP Tim Loughton, who sits on the Home Affairs Select Committee, added: “Serious questions need to be asked about how this was able to happen, and what checks and balances are in place to scrutinise the quality of results that affect people’s lives.” Randox scientists analyse samples of blood, saliva and hair for traces of drugs and alcohol on behalf of police forces around the country as well as family courts deciding custody and adoption cases. Two men have been arrested in connection with the tampering.